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On the Backs of Children: The House Tax Bill

Cutting taxes for the rich will wound working families and programs that exist to support children’s futures. While the tax plan has been billed as a middle-class boost, in reality, the plan takes away key investments in children and hardworking families.

For one, the plan complicates the lives of families who file for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is widely recognized for its impact in lifting families out of poverty through work. Details have not been set in stone but the plan suggests burdening families with more audits before they can receive this important credit for their hard work. Additionally, the framework of the budget resolution for 2018, adopted by the House Budget Committee, suggests deep cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), education, and other key investments in children. The proposal will give children just one penny for every dollar of the expected $1.5 trillion price tag for the bill. Spending on children is predicted to decrease in the next decade from 9.8% of the federal budget to just 7.5%. The consequences of these cuts are concerning for Nebraska’s children. 1

Nearly 75% of Medicaid enrollees in Nebraska are children. The program provides essential preventive care, giving low-income children the best chance to grow up to be healthy and productive citizens. The total cut to Medicaid is expected to be as high as $2 trillion, which will force states to drastically cut eligibility, coverage, and services for enrollees. 2

Last year, over 87,000 Nebraska children received SNAP, also known as food stamps. The program lifted 34,000 families out of poverty in the state last year. 3 In spite of its success in helping families keep food on the table, the passage of the deficit-busting tax bill would almost certainly force significant cuts in the coming years.

The details of the plan continue to be shaped in the coming weeks, but the structure and priorities within remain much the same. Congress is poised to leave behind low- and middle-income families in favor of the wealthy and corporations. All the while, children will almost certainly foot the bill for the $1.5 trillion price tag through cuts to important services down the road.

Call your member of Congress TODAY to ask them to stand up for Nebraska’s children!